NY to Vegas ...Late 1st trip report 10/1-10/7

I have enjoyed and gleaned much information, so I figured I would do a trip report for my just completed trip of 6 nights. I split the trip between Bellagio and Encore on decent offers for each.


Flew from JFK in NY on Jet Blue Mint. I monitored the seat selection prior to departure and there were no assigned seats in row 3, 4 or 5 so I chose the pod. JFK JetBlue terminal was the quietest I had ever seen. R=There were some dining options open and there were some people about.

the seats remained the same. The airplane was clean, and the crew was fine. They handed out menus and asked you to circle the options you wanted. Service was great and the flight arrived a nit early.


LAS was definitely quiet. Not much opened and felt a bit deserted. The Vegas excitement was definitely not what I was used to.





Nonetheless it was good to be back.


Booked a limo from Presidential, and they have always been a good option for me. The driver was young and asked if I wanted to stop at a liquor store…. I figured it couldn’t hurt. Must have been some sort of kickback to drivers. The place was near the airport and the prices were crazy. I told the driver that and promptly left without buying anything.


I’ll put the report into sections and not bore you with my daily comings and goings


Hotels


Bellagio

Arrived at Bellagio about 1 PM. Used the gold Plat check in. I had booked the Resort Tower FV King room…. the larger one at end of hall. Room wasn’t ready and I asked if there were any upgrades. Offered a suite for $145 a night with an attitude, and then offered to downgrade me. That’s OK I was early. I’ll wait…. Never got a text and after going back was informed my room was ready two hours ago ……. I was not thrilled, and the rep was beyond nice and gave me $50 resort credit.


Room was great. there was a sticker on the door attached to the door and the door jamb, saying the room was cleaned and sanitized. Room was clean and they had had glassware and the mini bar was full. 11th floor. View of fountains was fine.


Daily housekeeping was great and there was one small issue with the room. Slow drain in shower. Reported and was fixed promptly.


Encore

Arrived at Encore Sunday afternoon.


Temperature check, metal detector wanding and cursory bag search. Not a big deal. Took a minute to be safe/ Encore resort room wasn’t ready. Opted in for resort fee since I had 2 devices and planned to use the fitness center. Room wasn’t ready, as it was approximately 1:30 PM. Received a text in about half hour. 28th floor with south strip views. Room is great at over 700 sq feet and the Alexa device is great …… “Alexa close the drapes”


Gambling


I didn’t play any tables but noticed Bellagio crap were mostly $25 with some $15… 3:2 BJ was $50 at night and they had some $25 3:2 during the day. During the day the casino was quiet


Bellagio:

Played VP .25 FP DDB and BP on triple spin poker machine, some $5 single line BP and some bar top $1 7/5 BP – the only machine I won some on………. Didn’t hit much …. cycled 90K coin in over the 3 nights …… lost a ton. Interesting on Sunday I hit quad 8s twice within 3 hands of each other, then hit them twice again at Encore ……… of course, couldn’t be Aces


Encore

The VP at my level is not as good at Encore but managed to play some 3/5 play FP DDB @ $1 and some 7/5 BP @ 3/5 and single line @ $1. After getting crushed at Bellagio, the bankroll was limping at Encore. I did about 11000 points @Encore. I know some VP is 1 point per $6 and some $1 point for $10. So, I did anywhere between 66k – 100 K coin in over 3 nights with not much to show for the effort again


Hit 5 of these in 3 days ....not enough hough

This epitomized my gambling (wasn't actually mine... but it was apropos)

Comps


Both rooms were comped up front B $200 FP and $100 FB credit. I always ask host on duty if they can pick anything up on back end and usually at both properties, I get a polite no……. to my surprise Bellagio picked up my remaining food and beverage and the host could not have been nicer. She is now my host at Bellagio. Grabbed some breakfast @ Sadelles and on my way out she picked that up also ……… and that’s when I hit the 2 quad 8s so I thought my luck had changed ……. but NO lol


Encore 3 nights comped $225 FP up front. Host on duty when I checked out picked up $100 of my FB and sort of acted like she was doing me a favor. She wasn’t nice but wasn’t rude. So be it. Had a much more positive feeling from Bellagio


Food


Many restaurants are closed, have limited hours etc. very few options for lunch. and I you want to get dinner somewhere especially on the weekend MAKE RESERVATIONS

1st day had brunch at Sadelles. Sat at the bar Omelet was good bartender was good and we chatted about the COVID and how things have been. Said it was huge that they allow at bar seating now and I agree. He also told me they had the best bagels…. I’m from the metro area of NY (Long Island) … I pointed out …. you don’t have the best bagels LOL


Also grabbed a breakfast at Primrose @ ParkMGM…… very good waffles. More on ParkMGM in a bit.


Carbone- one of my favorite restaurants in Vegas. Had a reservation, requested bar seating. I have eaten there enough that I have become friendly with the former NYer Bernie who always treats me well at the bar. Half order of the spicy rigatoni, couple of meatballs and the porkchop with peppers were top notch. just a great time. The restaurant was buzzing, and it felt like Vegas on a Friday night




Saturday night I failed to make a reservation and ended up eating at Fix. They have it set up as a sports bar, sort of an extension of the sports bar grill with the same menu but sit down with service. A really good burger and a few beers hit the spot


Burger at FIX

Sunday on to Sinatra. The restaurant was pretty busy. ordered a Sinatra Smash ….and then was promptly seated. Panzanella di Granchio ………Panzanella salad with lump crab meat was great. and had the veal Milanese. One of my favorite dishes. The service was just OK. The waiter seemed disinterested in having a table of just one. I expected more from one of my favorites. The veal was tender as always and the food outstanding


Hit up Black Tap for a burger and a couple beers for lunch I have always touted Holsteins as a good burger. Black Tap may be better and it’s great the fries come with the burger. Good beers on tap. Bar service was great


Monday evening originally had reservations at Delmonico, but I honestly didn’t feel like leaving Encore …. LOL… so I grabbed something quick at the lobby bar. 3 Sinatra smashes, sliders and fries hit the spot. Perfect weekday evening meal


Last night I hit Lakeside. I have never been, and it always intrigued me. It was great. I had a view of the Lake of Dreams even though not sitting outside. Food was very good, and the service was outstanding/ Lump crab as a cold starter, charred Spanish octopus which was very good, and Hawaiian mahi-mahi …. really good.


I had breakfast at Jardin a couple times. I have always had a good experience here. Once I sat on the patio and the other at the bar. perfect start to a day. Quick easy and food is good


Pools


I am usually not a pool guy, but I wanted to spend sometimes outdoors.


Both pools B and Wynncore required you to validate your hotel room key card


The Bellagio pool was crowded for a Friday late morning, so I opted for a $60 daybed…… good location. Close to the pool. Drink and food service were great. Security was omnipresent. Mask wearing was required while sitting at your chair even though social distancing was in place. Security patrolled the pool often and reminded people to wear masks.


Encore pool was quiet which I liked. I like the Encore pool. Drink service was great. Patrons were not wearing masks while seated in their own chairs. security was there but low key.






Musings Findings and Miscellaneous


The typical Vegas vibe was missing. The casinos were quiet during the day

Covid protocols seemed fairly good at both Bellagio and Wynn. Temp checks at Wynn. Didn’t notice that at Bellagio


Wynn restaurants had an interesting rule. Keep mask on while seated until you get your first drink. Bellagio as soon as you sat you could take the mask off


ParkMGM I visited on a Saturday afternoon. It was dead. The smoke free was very noticeable. Eataly was quiet. only Primrose opened during the day that I noticed. Even the lobby stores were closed.


I walked the Strip a couple times and both times was very quiet. I never felt unsafe and no one actually bothered me, except the homeless guy who reached out for my coffee ……. Just ignored him and kept walking.


McCarran was so quiet. it was eerie. I flew home on a Wednesday at 2 PM. Both flights not crowded. I flew jet Blue Mint round trip. the service on the way home was better. FA took orders verbally for food. Way out they had you circle the food you want. Drink service plastic cups and they had ice. I was always a Delta One fan but JB Mint may be taking over 1st place for me


Did not witness any fights, rowdiness or anything out of the ordinary. Neither hotel had any skunk weed smell on my floors …. didn’t notice it in the casinos either. only place I notice it was on the strip and that was normal.


One other item when I got to the Encore the doorman said Welcome to the Wynn…. Oh, sorry the Encore. I said how about Wynncore bellman and doorman both laughed and said that was great …. Never thought of that. they liked it LOL

 

Nice report.

 

thanks.

 

Ty for the Tr.

 

Good info on the current environment there. Thanks.

 

Glad you had a good time despite the gambling losses.

 

Great report. Love the format and the details.

 

Great report & format. Thanks for sharing!

 

Thanks for the nice trip report and photos! Curious if you felt any less safe at Bellagio because they did not do temp checks and the Wynn did? Or was the Wynn temp check more for show.

 

Fantastic report and reviews. My Encore observations were similar to yours.

Your photo is yet another reminder of the "need" for me to get to Carbone asap!

And yeah, LOVE Jet Blue MINT.

Thanks for writing!

 

I did not feel less safe @ Bellagio, however more crowds at Bellagio Bellagio security had a presence in the casino. to be fair, also i was at Bellagio during the weekend and Encore Sun-Wed..., and mask adherence was pretty good at both places

 

Thanks. yes i highly highly recommend Carbone...... i'd say right now a notch better than Sinatra

and @Flowers I must say your report was much more fantastic than mine

 

I LOVE Sinatra so your saying Carbone is a "notch better" is really saying something to me. Thanks again for the review and report!

 

Sounds like a great getaway except for the gambling! Enjoyed all your details....thanks!

 

Thanks for TR [emoji846]

 

Thank you for sharing!

 

Nice report! Hope you can find a royal next time!

 

Thanks. I hope so also!

 

Great Report!